DUSHANBE, August 18, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- According to experts, there are several reasons for rise in gasoline prices in Tajikistan.

Specialists at the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MEDT), in particular, say gasoline price hike has resulted from rising fees for customs clearance of oil products in Tajikistan, rising world oil costs and the decrease in fuel deliveries from the countries that provide the bulk of Tajikistan’s fuel imports.

Mr. Toshpoulod Rabiyev, the head of the MEDT antimonopoly directorate, told Asia-Plus Tuesday afternoon that compared to last month gasoline prices have risen 5-7 percent.  “Thus, the price of one liter of 95-octane gasoline rose from 3.40 somoni in late July to 3.60 somoni in early August, with similar price rise for 80-octane (from 3.00 to 3.20 somoni) and 92-octane gasoline (from 3.20 to 3.40),” Rabiyev said.

According to him, the price of one barrel of oil has risen from 40.00 U.S. dollars in January to 70.00-74.00 U.S. dollars.  Besides, the countries, which provide the bulk of Tajikistan’s fuel imports, have limited sales in connection with harvest season that has also led to increase in gasoline prices in the country.

“However, the main reason for gasoline price hike is rising fees for customs clearance of oil products being imported to Tajikistan,” the MEDT official said, noting that fees fro customs clearance of fuels rose from US$335 per one ton of gasoline in January to US$483 in July.

According to the MEDT, 211,700 tons of gasolines have been delivered to Tajikistan over the first seven months of this year, which is 52,100 tons more than in the same period of last year.  On average, 30,200 tons of gasolines are delivered to the country every month, which is enough to meet domestic market’s requirements n fuels, specialists say.

Last year, 34 companies were engaged in supplying oil products to Tajikistan, while this year, their number has increased to 45.  The limited liability companies Gazpromneft-Tajikistan, Nouri Dilshod and Umed-88 currently account for some 29%, 11.4% and 5% of the overall volumes of gasoline deliveries to Tajikistan respectively.